A Complete Guide to GeM Portal Categories and Their Classifications

Before delving into the GeM portal categories, let’s first understand what the GeM portal is and how it works. It is an online procurement platform officially launched by the Government of India on 9th August 2016. Operated by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, it allows government departments (both state and central), organisations, and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to buy goods and services from registered sellers across India.

The GeM portal replaced the existing tendering methods, intending to bring transparency, efficiency, and inclusiveness in the procurement process. It also aims to promote fairness and eliminate corruption in the system.

For sellers, the online marketplace offers a single, unified platform to showcase their offerings and reach diverse buyers across multiple government departments. Whereas the buyers can browse and procure a wide range of products and services at competitive prices. These may include office supplies, IT hardware, vehicles, construction materials, and professional services.

These products and/or services are listed under various categories on the GeM portal and can be sold/purchased through direct orders, bidding, or reverse auction.

The GeM portal contains more than 10,000 products and services across diverse categories, including IT, electronics, automotive, furniture, office supplies, medical supplies, engineering equipment, consultancy, training, R&D, and insurance, among others. These categories are further subdivided into six quadrants, labelled Q1 to Q6.

The quadrant system streamlines the procurement process by defining specific rules on who can sell, upload product catalogues, and manage listings within each category. As a seller, understanding what are Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, and Q6 quadrants is crucial, as it specifies whether you are eligible to participate in a given category or not.

As mentioned, GeM quadrants are structured groups used to classify products and services on the GeM portal. Each quadrant defines who is allowed to sell, upload catalogues, and manage listings within a particular category. This system helps maintain clarity, transparency, and uniformity across the platform.

Furthermore, the GeM quadrants outline clear participation rules for different types of sellers, including Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), authorised resellers, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and other specialised groups. By assigning categories to specific quadrants, the government ensures that procurement policies and quality standards are followed consistently.

There are six quadrants in total. Quadrant 1, or Q1, includes categories that are exclusive to OEMs. It means that only manufacturers are allowed to list and sell their products in these categories. Similarly, Quadrant 4, or Q4, includes categories that are exclusive to authorised resellers. Quadrant 2 or Q2 in the GeM portal permits OEMs and their authorised sellers to participate in the marketplace.

Additionally, there are dedicated quadrants for SHGs and the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative. Overall, the quadrant system creates a well-regulated environment for both buyers and sellers. It helps reduce ambiguity and ensures smoother public procurement

• • • • Now that you know the purpose and significance of GeM quadrants, it’s time to discuss each quadrant in detail. By understanding these quadrants individually, sellers can easily identify where their products fit, and buyers can better understand the type of vendors allowed in each quadrant.

What is Q1 or Quadrant 1?

Quadrant 1 or Q1 in the GeM portal consists of categories where only whitelisted OEMs validated by the government are permitted to list and sell products. These categories usually include items that require strict quality assurance, specialised production standards, and direct manufacturer support. It ensures that the buyer can purchase genuine and quality products at the best price directly from the manufacturer.

Some common Q1 categories include high-precision equipment, branded electronics, machinery, vehicles, etc., where government procurement demands complete manufacturer accountability.

So, the key features of Q1 include -

• Only OEMs can upload product catalogues in this quadrant. If you are wondering what an OEM is in the GeM portal, it refers to a company that directly manufactures a product using raw materials.
• It ensures product authenticity and eliminates middlemen.
• Ideal for specialised or technical goods that require direct accountability.
• It empowers the buyers to get genuine products at the best prices.
• Limits the risk of counterfeit or sub-standard items.

What is Q2 or Quadrant 2?

Quadrant 2 or Q2 in the GeM portal permits both whitelisted OEMs and their authorised resellers to participate in the online government marketplace. In this quadrant, the OEMs maintain detailed product catalogues, which can be accessed by their authorised resellers to list and sell products. Such a system ensures buyers get access to a wide range of authentic products supported by an authorised distribution network.

Q2 categories often include IT equipment such as laptops and desktops, office electronics, servers, and standardised machinery. The key features of Q2 include:

• OEMs and their authorised resellers are allowed to list and sell products.
• Only OEMs can create product catalogues, which can be accessed by resellers.
• Ensures availability of authentic items at competitive prices.
• Maintains a balance between quality assurance and wider market availability.
• Ensures strong compliance and warranty management.
• Ideal for products that are in high demand.

What is Q3 or Quadrant 3?

Similar to the Quadrant 2, the Quadrant 3, or Q3, in the GeM portal permits both whitelisted OEMs and their authorised resellers to participate in the online government marketplace. However, the difference is that if the OEM has not created a product catalogue, the reseller can create the same and even upload it to the portal. Such an arrangement ensures the availability of products even if the original manufacturer is unable to maintain the catalogue.

Q3 categories typically involve items that do not require highly specialised manufacturing or direct OEM oversight, such as furniture, textiles, and consumables. The key features of Q3 include:

• Both OEMs and their authorised resellers can list and sell products.
• Anyone among the OEMs or resellers can create product catalogues.
• Suitable for common-use goods with fewer technical complexities.
• Enhances accessibility and choice for buyers.

What is Q4 or Quadrant 4?

Quadrant 4 or Q4 in the GeM portal comprises reseller-only categories. This quadrant is specifically designed for products that do not require any involvement from OEMs. Instead, the resellers are allowed to operate independently. However, they have to abide by the guidelines issued by the government.

Q4 categories typically include standard products that can be sold by multiple sellers. For example, stationery supplies, basic IT accessories, hand sanitisers, soaps, edible items, etc. The key features of Q4 are:

• Only resellers are allowed to list and sell products.
• Zero involvement of OEMs.
• Sellers must follow certain predefined guidelines.
• Suitable for standardised, widely used items.
• Encourages competitive pricing and wide availability.

What is Q5 or Quadrant 5?

Quadrant 5 or Q5 in the GeM portal is dedicated to Self Help Groups (SHGs) and similar community-based organisations. This quadrant aims to support social inclusion and promote local entrepreneurship through government procurement. Authorised sellers can upload products and catalogues within pre-determined categories generated automatically by the backend.

Q5 plays a vital role in giving smaller, grassroots producers visibility and direct access to government buyers. The key features include:

• Designed exclusively for SHGs and community-based organisations.
• Product categories are generated automatically by the backend.
• Encourages local production and economic empowerment of rural and semi-urban groups.
• Products often include handicrafts, handmade goods, organic food items, and local specialities.
• Aligns with social welfare and the government’s inclusive growth policies.

What is Q6 or Quadrant 6?

Quadrant 6 or Q6 is the last quadrant in the GeM portal. It focuses exclusively on the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative. In this quadrant, only OEMs are allowed to upload product catalogues, while resellers can pair their listings with these catalogues.

Q6 categories may include handloom products, local handicrafts, specialised agricultural goods, artisanal items, and region-specific manufacturing outputs. The key features of this quadrant include -

• Dedicated to the ODOP initiative.
• Showcases district-level specialities and artisanal goods.
• Helps small and traditional producers gain a wider reach.
• Encourages cultural preservation and craftsmanship
• Only OEMs can upload product catalogues; resellers can pair listings.

On the GeM portal, V2, V3, and V4 refer to different versions of product categories that have been revamped or modified based on user feedback. These versions help classify products based on how many variations or attribute combinations they contain. Understanding these versions is important for sellers while uploading catalogues and for buyers to compare similar items.

What is the V2 Category in the GeM Portal?

The V2 category simply stands for the “Version 2” category or the second version of that category. It means that this specific product category has been revamped or upgraded once based on user feedback. It has nothing to do with the quadrant.

Similarly, V3 and V4 stand for subsequent versions of product categories. The third version is known as the V3 category, whereas the fourth version is known as the V4 category.

When listing a product or service on the GeM portal, sellers are required to enter the variant ID. It is a unique identifier assigned to different versions of the same product under a single listing. It helps sellers quickly create different variants of the same product with minor changes, such as size, colour, etc.

For example, suppose you are listing a smartphone with three RAM/ROM options and two colour options. In this case, you need to enter a unique variant ID for each variant.

The advantages of assigning variant IDs to different variants include -

• It helps buyers easily compare variants and choose the one that’s best-suited to their requirements.
• Simplifies catalogue management.
• Prevents duplicate listings.

The GeM Portal has revolutionised government procurement by introducing structured categories, transparent classification systems like Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, and variant IDs. Understanding what is Q1 Q2 Q3 category in the GeM portal can help sellers in accurate catalogue creation and product listing. For buyers, it helps in finding the right product under the right category.

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